KAYAH, Myanmar: In a significant setback for Myanmar’s junta, a fighter jet crashed during clashes with the Karenni Nationalities Defence Force (KNDF) in Kayah State, eastern Myanmar, near the Thai border.
Both the military and the insurgent group confirmed the incident, with the KNDF claiming responsibility for shooting down the jet, while the junta cited technical issues.
According to junta spokesperson Zaw Min Tun, the jet experienced a technical problem, leading to a crash. Fortunately, the pilots ejected safely and maintained contact with the military. This incident unfolds amid the junta’s ongoing struggles against opposition forces, including ethnic minority groups and anti-junta militias, marking a formidable challenge to the ruling authority since the 2021 coup.
The insurgent alliance, including the KNDF, reports seizing over 100 army posts, indicating a coordinated rebellion against the junta. Towns in Sagaing region, central Myanmar, have also faced assaults, contributing to a multifront conflict.
Complicating matters further, foreign workers, potentially victims of human trafficking, find themselves trapped in the conflict zone. Among them are citizens of Vietnam and Thailand. The Thai foreign ministry disclosed that 200 of its nationals are awaiting evacuation, contingent on the situation’s improvement.
The KNDF, on its Facebook page, asserted its role in shooting down the jet using heavy machine guns and initiated a search for the pilots. However, independent verification of this information remains challenging.
Images posted by news outlet Mizzima on Facebook purportedly show the abandoned helmet and parachute of one of the pilots, underscoring the intensity and complexities of the conflict.
The ongoing clashes and the downing of a military jet underscore the junta’s escalating challenges, as various opposition groups unite against its rule.
